Nephi, having prayed mightily, receives an answer to his prayer. The Lord speaks to him and confirms the imminent fulfillment of all the prophecies given by the prophets concerning His birth. The Lord is no respecter of persons, and each of us can have this blessing of learning divine truth. He speaks to us through His living prophets. Their words will be fulfilled as if spoken by the Lord Himself (see D&C 1:38; 21:4–5). We receive confirmation of the truth through the Holy Ghost.
What can we learn about Nephi through this experience? His pattern of leadership and favor with the Lord is substantiated by this and many future experiences of an extraordinary nature. Not only does he hear the voice of the Lord on the eve of His birth and on a subsequent occasion (see 3 Nephi 1:12–13; 7:15), but he is also visited daily by angels (see 3 Nephi 7:15–18; 19:14–15), he raises his brother Timothy from the dead (see 3 Nephi 7:19; 19:4), works many miracles in the name of Jesus (see 3 Nephi 7:20; 8:1), and is ministered to and chosen as chief disciple by the resurrected Lord (see 3 Nephi 11:21; 19:15). Nephi is no ordinary man. He is in all respects “a just man … cleansed every whit from his iniquity” (3 Nephi 8:1). His role is truly one of preparing the way for the coming of the Lord. From his example we can better understand the character of leadership—involving extraordinary faith, unyielding commitment, devoted service, unconditional love, and fully yielding to the will of the Lord—essential as preparatory ingredients in our latter-day program to ready ourselves for the Second Coming.